What is a universal joint?

Passes turning power around a bend. A universal joint is a bendy coupling. It lets an axle keep spinning even when the thing at the other end moves up and down or steers left and right. Every real car has them in its drive shafts.

Try Independent Rally Car for free

Gearbox & Drivetrain Cars booklet pack: 30 PDF booklets for $5.99. Instructions only; individual booklets remain free.

Explore the printable pack

Try it yourself

Spin one end of a universal joint and bend it — does the other end still turn?

Build it: 2 builds that teach universal joint

  • 🏆 Independent Rally Car: Every wheel on its own springy arm, a differential, universal joints and Ackermann steering. (level 5 of 5, about 90 minutes, 47 steps)
  • 🌐 AWD with Central Diff: All four wheels driven, with a differential in the MIDDLE of the car — like a rally car. (level 5 of 5, about 90 minutes, 28 steps)

Common engineering questions

How can I try universal joint at home?

Spin one end of a universal joint and bend it — does the other end still turn?

Which builds teach universal joint?

2 MightyCog builds teach it: Independent Rally Car and AWD with Central Diff. Start with Independent Rally Car: 47 steps, about 90 minutes.

Ideas that go with it